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January 2017

Apprenticeships, for me, was beneficial in my opinion because it not only gets you into work, but also gives you a qualification whilst doing it. I decided that I would much rather be getting that 3 or 4 years extra experience in work and earning money, rather than getting a degree which might not even be directly linked to my future career.

I would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone thinking about their next step in education. I’m already a step ahead of all of my friends, I have experience that I never would have got from a degree and I’m learning valuable lessons from experienced colleagues.

I’d recommend an apprenticeship to someone who is leaving school, especially if you know what career you would want to do in the future. I’ve found that the experience you get from working in industry is invaluable and getting paid is an added bonus!

I have benefited from my apprenticeship by gaining the knowledge and skills to service and repair HG vehicles which has led to me securing a full-time job after my apprenticeship finished. This has given me financial security in my life at a young age and allowed me to do things that others my age may not be able to afford, like save for a deposit for a house.

I would love to go out to businesses of all sorts to encourage them to take the progression of their apprentices as seriously as our team. While academia can give you a qualification and some knowledge, the difference between that and learning on the job in a process driven environment is immense.

I chose an Apprenticeship as I thought that I would prove myself much more in a working environment than an academic one, which doesn't mean I am not academic just that this is how I prefer to showcase my knowledge.

I started my Apprenticeship as an Apprentice Sales Assistant for New Look in January 2015 as I love fashion and wanted to combine it with gaining a qualification. I was also considering going to college, however, I chose an Apprenticeship as it allows you to learn as you work. It also helps you build skills that you'll need in life whilst experiencing the world of work and seeing if the job is for you.

When I went to leave school two years ago, I was set on the hospitality industry; I wanted to work in hotels, either in events or front of house. Unfortunately, I never got past the initial interview for the jobs I went for. It could have been down to the lack of experience, or the fact I wasn’t fluent in a second language; I don’t know. I was just adamant that I wasn’t going to university. The thought of being stuck in debt for

Iram came to South and City College Birmingham two years ago as a business and administration apprentice within the college’s very own business services team. Since starting Iram has gained valuable experience and is beginning to plan her future having found a profession she’d love to have a career in.

After uploading my details and CV into GetMyFirstJob’s website, I was instantly able to navigate and apply to many potential apprenticeships. In fact, within my first search, I applied to the same apprentice provider who I now work for!

The last time I wrote an article for GetMyFirstJob I was 4 months into my Digital Marketing and Social Media Apprenticeship and was due to start my training. I’m now 9 months in and due to finish at the end of this year… it’s crazy how time flies!

I would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone thinking about their next step in education. I’m already a step ahead of all of my friends, I have experience that I never would have got from a degree and I’m learning valuable lessons from experienced colleagues.